Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing have not had the best of luck during their early season California stretch, but as champions do, the team will regroup and mend their focus, already setting aim on visits to Bakersfield Speedway and Perris Auto Speedway on Friday and Saturday, March 25-26.
As an example of his poor luck in the Golden State, Schatz, driver of the Advance Auto Parts, Carquest, Ford Motor Company, Ford Performance, Curb Records, Sage Fruit, Digital Ally, Absolute Automation and Security, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts, No. 15 sprint car, was forced to settle with a 22nd-place score at Merced Speedway on Friday, March 18, the result of an early race tangle with 34 circuits still on the counter. The ten-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion started 16th on the feature grid, doing so after finishing fourth in his respective heat race.
Unfortunately, Schatz did not have the opportunity to rebound on Saturday during the Outlaws’ visit to Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, as the event was eventually canceled due to poor weather.
Schatz’ poor luck is certainly uncanny, as the Fargo, North Dakota, native was on a five-race top-ten streak before his stretch of hiccups started at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare. A victory is also on the season scorecard, capturing the year-opening win at Volusia Speedway Park in DeLeon Springs, Florida.
ON DECK:
Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing will continue their 2022 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series campaign with another action-packed weekend in the Golden State, this time visiting Bakersfield Speedway in Bakersfield, California, and Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, California, on Friday and Saturday, March 25-26. The West Coast double will conclude all California action until The Greatest Show On Dirt returns to the Pacific in early September.